Kevin Gorman stories, Page 39
After up-and-down season, Nick Gonzales seeking to become impact player for Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. — Nick Gonzales takes pride in being the first draft pick for the Pittsburgh Pirates under general manager Ben Cherington, though he’s careful not to dwell on the distinction. Gonzales would prefer to be known as the Pirates’ starting second baseman. Not just on Opening Day but beyond....
Henry Davis homers, draws RBI walk in 5-run 5th as Pirates beat Tigers
Henry Davis continues to make a strong impression on the Pittsburgh Pirates, whether or not he’s swinging the bat. Davis crushed his second home run of spring training in the first inning and drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in another run in a five-run fifth, showing why the catcher...
‘Play the right way’: Gold Glove 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes evolving into a model player for Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. — John Wehner didn’t need defensive analytics or awards to prove what his eyes were telling him when he called Ke’Bryan Hayes the best defensive third baseman he’d ever seen. But Wehner was going out on a limb, as Hayes was only a rookie for the Pittsburgh Pirates...
Bryan Reynolds, Jared Triolo clear deck with homers as Pirates beat Rays
BRADENTON, Fla. — Bryan Reynolds took play-by-play announcer Greg Brown’s “clear the deck” home run call to another level. Reynolds smashed a cannonball that sailed over the deck and left field bleachers and out of LECOM Park, his second shot this week that left the ballpark. It inspired Jared Triolo...
Jack Suwinski wants to hit in the middle of the order, improve play in center field for Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. — When the Pittsburgh Pirates played their Grapefruit League home opener, Jack Suwinski found his name in the same spot of the batting order as he was at the end of last September. Pirates manager Derek Shelton had Suwinski hitting cleanup, behind Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds and Ke’Bryan...
Paul Skenes shines in 1st spring start for Pirates, retiring Orioles’ No. 1 overall picks
SARASOTA, Fla. — As baseball’s top overall and pitching prospects, they needed no introductions to the diehards. They got them from the public address announcer anyway. Now pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Paul Skenes. Leading off for the Baltimore Orioles, Jackson Holliday. The highly anticipated showdown marked the beginning of...
Speedy Ji Hwan Bae learning benefits of slowing it down in field, at plate for Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. — Where Ji Hwan Bae attracted attention for his speed as a rookie for the Pittsburgh Pirates, whether it was stealing bases or chasing down fly balls, he is learning the benefits of slowing down. The Pirates had Bae split time between second base and center field last...
Tsung-Che Cheng flashes power with 2-run homer, but Tigers rally past Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. — Tsung-Che Cheng didn’t join the Pittsburgh Pirates at spring training last year because he was playing for his native Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic. When the 22-year-old shortstop the Pirates call “Z” saw his name in the starting lineup against the Detroit Tigers, Cheng had a...
Paul Skenes to make 1st Grapefruit League start for Pirates at Orioles on Thursday
BRADENTON, Fla. — Paul Skenes knew he was making his Grapefruit League debut Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles but, beyond that, the right-hander wasn’t aware that he was facing 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes and the top prospect in baseball in shortstop Jackson Holliday. After throwing two...
Quinn Priester searches for consistency in hopes of securing spot in Pirates’ rotation
BRADENTON, Fla. — When Quinn Priester wasn’t getting the results he wanted with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he sought confirmation of a time when his fastball command and velocity weren’t issues. The 23-year-old right-hander found it by returning to the minor leagues, both physically and mentally. Deflated by a mid-August demotion,...
Ke’Bryan Hayes hits grand slam as Pirates homer 4 times to beat Braves for 1st win
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t have any success against Atlanta left-hander Chris Sale through the first two innings, so they welcomed a pitching change. When the Braves turned to 20-year-old righty Owen Murphy, a 2022 first-round pick, the Pirates took advantage in the third inning. Jack Suwinski doubled,...
Pirates’ Jared Triolo counting on versatility, bat in competition for starting 2nd base job
DUNEDIN, Fla. — The closer Jared Triolo got to the major leagues, the more he realized his future might be at a position other than third base because of Ke’Bryan Hayes’ presence on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Triolo proved he could fill in at the hot corner when the NL Gold...
Roansy Contreras shows increased velocity but gives up 4 hits as Blue Jays beat Pirates
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Roansy Contreras pumped a 94.8 mph four-seam fastball to Bo Bichette on his first pitch and topped out at 96.2 on a first-pitch four-seamer to Toronto’s No. 3, hitter Danny Jansen. After a season that began in the starting rotation but was spent mostly in the minors...
‘Good to get back’: Oneil Cruz shows lateral movement in 1st game with Pirates since injury
BRADENTON, Fla. — If the Pittsburgh Pirates were worried about Oneil Cruz’s lateral movement after missing almost all of last season with a fractured left ankle, they didn’t have to wait long to find out. The first contact of his first spring training game provided an answer. It marked the...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Oneil Cruz passes 1st test of spring training in Pirates’ home opener
BRADENTON, Fla. — Mitch Keller was in the middle of answering a question about working with catcher Yasmani Grandal on Sunday when the Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher interrupted his own thought. “Sorry,” Keller said, as he stared at the clubhouse television. “Oneil just hit one off this building. That’s crazy.”...
At Yasmani Grandal’s urging, Mitch Keller goes outside comfort zone to throw cutter
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates put their $77 million starting pitcher on the mound for the Grapefruit League home opener, then their new catcher put Mitch Keller to a test. Two days after Keller signed a five-year contract — a franchise-record deal, in terms of average annual value —...
Henry Davis makes strong start at catcher, but Twins top Pirates in Grapefruit League opener
FORT MYERS, Fla. — With Henry Davis a candidate to make the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Opening Day roster as a catcher, manager Derek Shelton wasted no time to see what he could do. After playing right field as a rookie, the 2021 No. 1 overall draft pick started at his natural...
‘As he goes, the team goes’: Pirates counting on more consistency from Bryan Reynolds
BRADENTON, Fla. Bryan Reynolds is convinced he’s capable of a 30-home run, 100-RBI season, even if the Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder has never hit for either of those benchmarks in a season. After leading the team in slugging percentage and RBIs and ranking second in batting average, doubles, triples, home...
‘I couldn’t be more thrilled’: Pirates reward Mitch Keller’s perseverance, bank on his future
BRADENTON, Fla. — As Mitch Keller thanked his Pittsburgh Pirates coaches and teammates for their support, the All-Star right-hander and staff ace got emotional. He paused to collect his composure and focused on his future. “It’s a really exciting time to be a Pirate,” Keller said, “and I couldn’t be...
MLB’s new uniforms don’t pass the eye test for Pirates players in spring training
BRADENTON, Fla. — Some Pittsburgh Pirates players have grumbled privately about the new MLB uniforms, expressing their dissatisfaction with the differences. The names and numbers are visibly smaller. The mesh material on the game jerseys and pants is stretchier and, with home whites, can be see-through. By adding mesh to...
‘Keep the Yinzer’: Pirates players say All-Star closer David Bednar should receive next extension
BRADENTON, Fla. — Before staff ace Mitch Keller could put ink to his $77 million contract, there was talk about which player should be the next targeted for a long-term extension by the Pittsburgh Pirates. With Gold Glove third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes and left fielder Bryan Reynolds locked into eight-year...
‘We’re going to win a lot of games with him’: Paul Skenes excited for Mitch Keller’s extension
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pittsburgh Pirates players were pumped about the contract extension that locked up All-Star right-hander Mitch Keller for the next five years at $77 million, especially after a breakout season. One of the newest Pirates was just as excited, and not just for selfish reasons. For 21-year-old right-hander...
‘A turning of the tides’: Pirates teammates thrilled to see Mitch Keller’s long-term deal
BRADENTON, Fla. — As word buzzed around the spring training complex that the Pittsburgh Pirates had come to an agreement with staff ace Mitch Keller on a contract extension, only one thing was missing. That would be Mitch Keller. Before the 27-year-old All-Star right-hander could sign a five-year, $77 million...
Pirates lock up All-Star right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller to 5-year contract extension
BRADENTON, Fla. — Mitch Keller impressed the Pittsburgh Pirates as much with his character as he did with his rise to All-Star pitcher, making him appear a safe bet to bank on for the future. The Pirates locked up another franchise cornerstone Thursday morning, agreeing to a five-year contract extension...
Ryan Borucki’s new glove a purr-fect fit, much like lefty’s relief role for Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. — Ryan Borucki couldn’t stop smiling while getting ready for Photo Day, showing off his prized new glove to teammates inside the Pirate City clubhouse. The Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed reliever had a creative idea for a Rawlings REV1X custom glove, so he asked Rawlings representative Stevie Cohen if...
